BETWEEN WICKETS
What do the figures with all those zeroes really mean? When you stare at a word long enough, it begins to look strange and meaningless. Psychologists call this ‘semantic satiation’. Look at the IPL rights figures long enough — 50,000 crore, 60,000 crore, six billion dollars, — and there is numerical satiation. The figures begin to look faintly absurd.
The IPL ignores inflation, ignores Covid-induced slowdown, and seems to have carved out a kingdom of its own in the sporting landscape, independent of the economic climate. The pressure is now on the viewers to watch the IPL. Any drop in viewership may be construed as lack of interest and discourage advertisers. We are in for more hype, more hysteria, greater frenzy – and all that before a ball is bowled next year! That is the nature of the beast.
